Manchester United produced a stunning late fightback to beat Lyon and reach the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday. They came back from being 4-2 down and scored twice in the final minute of extra time to achieve an extraordinary 5-4 victory at Old Trafford and 7-6 aggregate win. It is arguably up there with one of the best fightbacks in European compeition. BBC Sport looks back at some of the greatest turnarounds in Champions League and Europa Leauge history. ...
Conor Bradley says it would be a "dream come true" to help Liverpool clinch the Premier League title this season. The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international, who was part of side that won the League Cup last season, has featured in the past two games for Arne Slot after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out for four league matches. Liverpool are 13 points ahead of Arsenal in the title race and will be crowned champions if they win two of their remaining six games. "It would be really special if we can get over the line," Bradley told BBC Sport NI. "Whenever you join a club like Liverpool you dream of winning the Premier League. "I have supported Liverpool all of my life and bringing home the Premier League would be so special." Liverpool could clinch the title as early as Sunday should they beat Leicester City and Arsenal lose to Ipswich Town earlier that afternoon. Bradley, though, does not want to get caught up in the permutations. "We have just got to keep playing our football," added the full-back, who has made 14 Premier League appearances this season. "We are top of the league for a reason, because we have played really good football, and hopefully if we can do that for a few more games we should have it won and I am sure there would be great celebrations if we do it too. "It's been a bit of a frustrating year for me with injuries, but I am really happy to be back and back with the team, and hopefully I can help as much as I can and bring the Premier League home." Despite his injuries, Bradley's performances have again drawn praise this season, most notably in a 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid that featured a crunching tackle on French star Kylian Mbappe. With Trent Alexander-Arnold possibly leaving at the end of the season when his contract expires, Bradley could become even more important to Liverpool in the seasons ahead and the 23-time capped international has an unwavering desire to be at the Reds. "It's my dream club," he said. "I am a Liverpool fan all my life so I am enjoying my time here. "I just want to keep working really hard and keep doing well for the club and keep bringing trophies home if possible." Bradley, who is involved in ongoing contract talks himself, was thrilled to see Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk recently sign contract extensions to remain at Anfield, especially after months of speculation. "It's really good for the likes me because they are putting faith in the club and they know the club is going in the right direction," he said. "To play with players of [their] calibre is a privilege. "Just how good they are, not just in games but in training every day, and the things you can learn of them, it's brilliant and good for every Liverpool fan out there."...
Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel won on his return to action after suffering multiple bone fractures in a serious crash last year. Four months after sustaining rib, shoulder blade and hand fractures during the accident in training, the Belgian outsprinted compatriot Wout van Aert to win the Brabantse Pijl, held on the roads in the area he grew up in. The 25-year-old also suffered lung contusions, a dislocated right clavicle and several torn ligaments after colliding with the open door of a postal vehicle. Speaking on Thursday before the race, Evenepoel said his injuries "would have ended my career if I had been a tennis or basketball player". The Soudal-Quick Step rider and Visma-Lease A Bike's Van Aert attacked with just under a third of the race to go, and were soon joined by 22-year-old British rider Joe Blackmore. Israel-Premier Tech rider Blackmore was dropped as Evenpoel attacked on the penultimate climb, while Portugal's Antonio Morgado won the bunch sprint to take third. "I'm surprising myself. I was very fresh," said Evenepoel. "I'm especially satisfied with my sprint. Lately, I've been working a lot on my explosiveness, and it paid off." It is Evenepoel's first win since securing the second of his world time trial titles at the World Championships in Zurich in September 2024. The Belgian hopes to compete in the three Ardennes classics and the Tour de Romandie in preparation for this year's Tour de France. Evenepoel won gold in the Olympic time trail and the road race at the Paris Games last summer. He also finished third overall in the Tour de France, winning the stage-seven individual time trial....
Cameron Green hit a century on his Gloucestershire debut as the visitors posted 365-7 on day one of their County Championship game with Kent at Canterbury. Fellow centurion James Bracey made 109 not out and put on 167 with the Australian international, who had to retire not out on exactly 100 with suspected cramp. Nathan Gilchrist kept Kent in it with 5-61 but the hosts were hindered by an indifferent display in the field and an injury to Grant Stewart. After winning the toss Kent stuck with the formula that helped them win their two opening games by choosing to bowl, but they failed to capitalise on a promising start having reduced Gloucestershire to 15-2. Gilchrist got Cameron Bancroft for just two, lbw trying to play across his pads, but Ollie Price was on one when he edged Grant Stewart. Keeper Harry Finch pulled out of the catch expecting it to carry to first slip and it fell short. Ben Charlesworth went in the next over, lbw to Gilchrist, but Kent's already cursed bowling unit then suffered another blow when Stewart pulled up injured midway through the 14th over and had to be replaced by Jas Singh. Singh had Ollie Price lbw for 18 in his next over, to a ball that looked like it might be going down, but Green and Mike Hammond rebuilt the innings and it was 96-3 at lunch. Hammond looked poised for his half-century, only for Singh to rip out his off stump for 48, but that was the highpoint of an otherwise disappointing afternoon session for the hosts. Green never looked troubled and he pushed Jack Leaning for a single to mid-off to reach his 50. It was 225-4 at tea, after which the visitors continued to dominate, although they were given another life when Bracey was on 67. He edged Leaning to first slip but Daniel Bell-Drummond put down a regulation chance. By the time Green reached the late 90s he seemed to be suffering from cramp and was visibly struggling to take singles. When he drove Joey Evison for one he made it to the bowler's end before collapsing to the ground and retiring. Gilchrist was the only bowler who really looked like taking a wicket and he dragged Kent back into it late in the evening session. He got Graeme van Buuren lbw for 19 with the new ball and Tom Price leg before for eight with a full toss that hit him on the shin. Matt Taylor made eight when he gloved a short-pitched delivery to Finch, but Josh Shaw made it to stumps on 18 not out and with Green available to return if needed, Gloucestershire could yet bat deep into day two....
Scottish Premiership No top-flight action this weekend, with the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden. Celtic can seal a 13th Scottish top-flight title in 14 seasons if they avoid defeat at Dundee United on 26 April. Rangers will secure the second Champions League qualifying place if they win away to St Mirren on the same day. Whoever finishes third and fourth will also be in Europe, as will the division's fifth-placed side should Celtic or Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup. The fight for the final top-six place was won by St Mirren, who beat Ross County 3-2 on Saturday, with Heart of Midlothian and Motherwell both missing out after contesting a goalless draw at Fir Park. Bottom side St Johnstone are five adrift of Dundee, and six behind Kilmarnock and Ross County. Motherwell are five clear of 11th, with Hearts six points away from the relegation play-off spot. With the teams in each half of the table all playing each other again, there is still plenty scope for movement between now and 18 May....
Ruben Amorim made a pretty significant point in the aftermath of his side's staggering 5-4 comeback win against Lyon. A point that underlined the high stakes game his first part-season at Manchester United has become. Sitting in the media room at Old Trafford, about at hour after his players had been careering around the pitch taking in their achievement after coming from 4-2 down with six minutes of extra time remaining to conjure up a sensational victory, Amorim took a deep breath and offered a little analysis. "This kind of moment can help the players a lot in this kind of season," the Portuguese head coach said. "It can create some connection with the fans and the players and we can forget for a few minutes what kind of season we are having. "Today is a good feeling but tomorrow we start everything again." For United, Friday will mark the start of preparations for Wolves at home. Their manager Vitor Pereira was in the Old Trafford stands for the start of the Europa League epic, but like many supporters he had headed for the exit before the drama-fuelled ending. Pereira knows the outcome suits his team. United have to recover from such a draining experience. Amorim hinted at changes being made to protect tired players. Wolves could end up facing a very weakened team. "We have to take a risk and save some players," said Amorim. "If you look at our season, the most important thing for everybody is Europa League." So, United's season boils down to the two games against Spain's Athletic Bilbao and, maybe, a final against Bodo/Glimt from Norway or Tottenham. ...
McLaren's Oscar Piastri took a controlled, dominant victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix to close on team-mate Lando Norris in the world championship. The Australian was serene in the lead, calmly keeping himself out of reach of his rivals, as Mercedes' George Russell held off an assault from the second McLaren of Lando Norris for second. Norris, fighting back from sixth on the grid and a five-second penalty for a false start, had a chance to pass Russell going into the final lap, but could not make it work. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth, passed by Norris with eight laps to go, ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a lonely fifth. Red Bull's Max Verstappen could only take sixth place from Alpine's Pierre Gasly on the final lap, a week after his brilliant victory in Japan. The result, the first time McLaren have won the home race of their Bahraini main shareholders, leaves Norris three points ahead of Piastri at the head of the championship. Verstappen, anonymous and uncompetitive, is eight points off the lead in third. Piastri was always favourite for victory after taking pole position, and he never looked in danger of losing the race once he had retained the lead at the start. Behind him, Norris moved up from sixth on the grid to third on the first lap behind Piastri and Russell, with Leclerc running fourth in the Ferrari. But it soon became apparent that Norris' front wheels had been too far forward on the grid, and he was given a five-second penalty. Despite his enforced longer pit stop, Norris managed not to lose a position, but he was passed by Leclerc at around one-third distance. Ferrari had chosen a different tyre strategy to McLaren and Mercedes, starting on the medium tyre rather than the softs of their rivals. That allowed Leclerc to run seven laps longer before his first stop, giving him a grip advantage in the second stint, and allowing the Ferrari to pass the McLaren at Turn Four on lap 25. But the advantage swung back to Norris when the safety car came out on lap 32, shortly after half-distance, to allow officials to clear debris from the track. Nearly all the drivers stopped for tyres, and Russell, Leclerc and Norris came out on three different compounds - Russell on softs, Leclerc on hards and Norris on mediums. After a few laps of stasis, Norris eased up towards Leclerc. They battled for several laps, and Norris accused Leclerc of forcing him off the track when he tried one move around the outside of Turn Four. But he fought back and finally made the move stick with eight laps to go. Norris then set off after Russell and was on his tail going into the final two laps. It looked like a move was on. But he perhaps miscalculated by making a half-move into Turn One on the final lap. It did not come off, and it left him too far behind to challenge the Mercedes driver into Turn Four, securing second for Russell. Norris said: "A tough race. I made too many mistakes. A messy race from me. Disappointed not to bring home a one-two for McLaren."...
Graeme McDowell says "it could be incredible what Rory McIlroy will achieve in the sport" following his dramatic career Grand Slam-clinching Masters triumph. McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, said he was among the millions of TV viewers who "lived every shot with him" during Sunday's rollercoaster of a final round at Augusta as he also ended an 11-year major drought. "He's now a legend of the game. To win the Grand Slam is something a lot of players don't even come close to touching," said McDowell as he recalled his first-ever round at St Andrews with a then 18-year-old McIlroy on the eve of the Dunhill Links Championship in 2007. And the "floodgates could now open" for him, McDowell said. "I still look at him as a kid that looks like he's got 10 or 15 years of career ahead of him," added McDowell, who played alongside McIlroy in the victorious European Ryder Cup teams in 2010, 2012 and 2014. "As in any sport, or in any facet of life, when you've absolutely climbed to the top peak of what you want to achieve in your life, where do you go from there? "Some people can be just like 'that's it' and maybe not do a lot more in their career. Others people can kick on and the world is their oyster and he could go on to win four, five, six more majors from here."...
British teenager Matthew Brennan sprinted to his second stage win of the Volta a Catalunya. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider, 19, edged past Dutchman Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to clinch stage five in three hours, 28 minutes and 14 seconds. Brennan previously won the first stage of the race in a stunning sprint finish for his first World Tour victory. Thursday's 172km fifth stage favoured the sprinters with only one categorised climb, but they were affected by strong winds in the final 20km. "We've worked all day and we knew it would be a little bit hectic coming into the final stretch," Brennan said. "I think the whole team was there [at the end] and we came into the finish in a good position. I'm so happy that I could finish off for them." Spain's Juan Ayoso, racing for UAE Team Emirates XRG, keeps his place at the top of the general classification but Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's Primoz Roglic has narrowed the gap between them to just one second. The pair are pulling ahead with another Spaniard, Enric Mas, 21 seconds behind in third place. Stage six, the penultimate day of the race, moves to the mountains for a 159km stretch. Also on Friday, Mathieu van der Poel won the E3 Saxo Classic in Belgium for the second successive year. The Dutch Alpecin–Deceuninck rider launched a solo attack from 38km out to seal his third win from three races this season, crossing the line more than one minute before Lidl-Trek's Mads Pedersen. Ineos Grenadiers rider Filippo Ganna was a further 59 seconds back....
Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons have yet to agree to sign a new long-term deal with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), with a set deadline passing on Tuesday night. WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood asked the three sides to ensure they had agreed to confirm their intention to sign a new deal by "close of play" on Tuesday, following the governing body's takeover of Cardiff last week. The Arms Park outfit were placed into temporary administration last Wednesday, with the WRU taking control of the capital-based region. That development raised concerns about the proposed new arrangement between the WRU and the four Welsh professional sides, known as the Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA). The PRA, which includes a new funding arrangement, is meant to form a key component of the WRU's long-term plan, which they have called the 'One Wales' strategy. In February, it was announced the parties had agreed in principle to a five-year deal - but that was before the dramatic events surrounding Cardiff last week. The WRU met with Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons last week before Collier-Keywood sent a follow-up email to the three sides stating they needed to agree to sign the PRA by 15 April....
Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals with victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday. The Gunners took a 3-0 lead into the second leg before winning 2-1 in Madrid to seal a 5-1 aggregate triumph. Aston Villa, meanwhile, had their dreams ended despite an impressive fightback after defeat by Paris St-Germain - who will face Arsenal in the semis - on Tuesday. In the other quarter-final ties, Barcelona reached the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win against Borussia Dortmund, who won the second leg 3-1, while Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate after drawing the second leg 2-2....
In the build-up to Wednesday's night Champions League quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu against Arsenal, it felt like there was only one word on every Real Madrid fan's mind - remontada. That is Spanish for comeback, and while Real Madrid sides of the past have produced stirring fightbacks from difficult positions to triumph, that never looked likely with this current team. Real were 3-0 down from a disappointing first-leg display at Emirates Stadium but, bar a brief moment of belief when Vinicius Jr cancelled out Bukayo Saka's second-half opener within two minutes, the holders never threatened to overturn the deficit. It was Arsenal instead who fashioned a success to become the only side to win their first two games against Real at the Bernabeu. Gabriel Martinelli struck in stoppage time to secure a stunning 2-1 victory and 5-1 success on aggregate. The post-mortem has already begun and, as Real Madrid face up the prospect of not being in the Champions League semi-finals for just the third time in 12 seasons, Carlo Ancelotti knows the questions about him and his players won't be going away anytime soon. "We have the dark side and we have the bright side," said the Italian, who took charge of Real for a second spell in 2021 and has won the Champions League three times with the club. "We have managed the bright side many times, we have won titles, we have won games. We have been eliminated [from the Champions League but] we have three more competitions we need to stay focused for." Spanish football expert Guillem Balague added: "Real Madrid stand at the crossroads. They have a squad in need of refreshing. "The defeat to Arsenal hasn't caused a reset, it has simply confirmed the need for it. For Ancelotti the message will be clear - it's time to move on."...
Harlequins fly-half Jamie Benson has signed a contract extension with the Premiership club. The 22-year-old has played 20 times in all competitions - making his debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup in November 2021. He made his Premiership debut against Exeter in November last year and has gone on to play five times in the top flight and once in Europe this season. The young Cambridge University graduate scored 13 second-half points to earn the Player of the Match award when Quins beat Saracens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month. "I have been at the club since I was 13 years old. It's my boyhood club and I have been coming to The Stoop from a young age," Benson told the club website. "Coming out of university and being in the programme full-time for the first time has been a big step up in standard - I've made my Premiership debut and earned a few more appearances, so I'm pleased so far. "I'm very lucky to have Nick Evans as one of my coaches at the club and to work closely with Marcus (Smith) and Jarrod (Evans) daily. "They have great rugby minds so I am just trying to absorb as much as I can and get better every day." Quins have not disclosed the length of the former England under-20 international's deal. "He's an intelligent rugby player and he's very accurate off the kicking tee, which is hugely important for every 10," Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson added. "We have a strong group of fly-halves at the club, it's great to see how they learn from each other every day and push one another on the training pitch. "We're delighted Jamie will continue his journey at Harlequins as we work closely with him to fulfil his bright potential." ...
From empty stands and absent superstars to innovative formats and unusual match-ups - did the inaugural Grand Slam Track meeting deliver? The 12 athletes who left Kingston, Jamaica this weekend with an additional $100,000 (£77,500) after competing in just two events might suggest it was a huge success. However, huge swathes of empty seats at the National Stadium led to the feeling that the innovative new format, the brainchild of four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, has work to do in order to capture an audience. "Obviously, look, let's be honest. We would love to see more spectators here, you know?" Johnson said. "We think we'll get that, we think that'll happen. But the crowd was engaged, and that's what's really important. People were really engaged with what's happening here." American Johnson said he launched the concept, broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK, in a bid to maintain the attention and excitement athletics generates every four years at the Olympics. The event in Jamaica was the first of four scheduled three-day events - each of the next three take place in the United States - and Johnson was pleased with how it played out, although he admitted there are issues to iron out. "Everything went smooth from a competition standpoint," Johnson added. "But we had a few things behind the scenes that we didn't like. "Other people probably didn't notice it, but we did. We will look at everything. We noticed lots of different things. But those aren't the things we're going to get into right now. "Right now we're just celebrating that we had a great event, athletes and fans enjoyed it. We'll continue to improve."...
Among all the chaos around Manchester United's season and the talk of summer transfer priorities, the goalkeeper situation had not been top of the list. Yes, Andre Onana's £47.5m transfer was one of those "inherited" deals namechecked by co-owner Sir Jim Ractliffe, as part of the £400m the club still owes on unpaid transfer fees. And Ratcliffe did mention Onana by name as he talked about getting "the house in order" financially, and explaining why it will take time for the club "to move away from the past into a new place in the future". But when former United midfielder Nemanja Matic labelled Onana one of United's "worst-ever goalkeepers" - and then the Cameroon international subsequently made two more errors in last week's 2-2 draw in Lyon - yet another 'crisis' in United's chaotic season emerged. Head coach Ruben Amorim will be asked by media on Wednesday who will start in goal for their crucial Europa League quarter-final with Lyon, Onana or United's latest scapegoat, number two Altay Bayindir. Whether he chooses to answer or not is a different matter. But when the choice is made between the goalkeepers, it could shape what the future looks like for Amorim and his ailing team. Leaving Onana out of the Premier League defeat at Newcastle was the easy bit. In terms of the domestic situation, barring an unlikely late season surge into a Uefa Conference League spot, United's campaign is done. Telling Onana to have the weekend off and clear his head was a decision with few negatives attached. The same cannot be applied to the decision Amorim has to make on Thursday. No matter which keeper misses out, they have to be on the bench. The goalkeeper overlooked will surely be looking for a new club this summer. And it could yet turn out both will leave - meaning more money being paid out on replacements that the club can ill afford. It is not an ideal situation and not one United chiefs were thinking about when Amorim arrived at the club from Sporting in November....